Exerciser for backward rotating exercises

ABSTRACT

An exerciser includes a base including a seat for supporting a user, a back frame rotatably secured on the base with a pivot axle for supporting the back of the user and for allowing the user to force and to rotate the back frame relative to the base about the pivot axle. A foot support is slidable relative to the base and selectively coupled to the back frame for allowing the back frame and the foot support to be moved in concert with each other. The back frame includes one or more brackets selectively secured to the base and the foot support with fasteners.

[0001] The present invention relates to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/728,548, filed Nov. 29, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an exerciser, and more particularly to an exerciser for backward rotating exercises or for selectively exercising the back portion and/or the feet portions of the users.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] Some of the typical exercisers may be used for conducting pulling and stepping exercises. U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,836 to Chen discloses one of the typical exercisers. However, the back portion may not be rotated relative to the supporting base for conducting the back portion exercises.

[0006] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional exercisers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an exerciser which may be used for conducting backward rotating exercises or for selectively exercising the back portion and/or the feet portions of the users.

[0008] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an exerciser comprising a base including a seat for supporting a user, a back frame rotatably secured on the base with a pivot axle for supporting a back of the user and for allowing the user to force and to rotate the back frame relative to the base about the pivot axle, a lever rotatably secured to the bases a foot support secured to the lever and slidable and movable relative to the base, and means for selectively coupling the lever to the back frame.

[0009] A follower tube is further provided and secured to the lever, and a rod is slidably secured to the follower tube for supporting the foot support.

[0010] A device is further provided for slidably supporting the follower tube on the base and includes a roller disposed on the base, the follower tube is engaged on and supported on the roller. The rod may be adjusted relative to the follower tube.

[0011] A device may further be provided for biasing the foot support against a sliding movement of the foot support relative to the base.

[0012] The selectively coupling means includes at least one bracket secured to the back frame and rotatably secured to the base with the pivot axle, the lever includes at least one leg pivotally secured to the base with the pivot axle, and means for selectively securing the lever to the bracket.

[0013] The selectively securing means includes a fastener engaged through the leg of the lever and the bracket to selectively secure the back frame and the lever together. The fastener may also be used to selectively securing the bracket to the base and thus to secure the back frame to the base.

[0014] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exerciser in accordance with the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the exerciser, in which a portion of the base is cut off for showing the inner elements of the exerciser;

[0017]FIG. 3 is a partial rear perspective view of the exerciser;

[0018]FIGS. 4, 5 are plane schematic views illustrating the operation of the exerciser;

[0019]FIGS. 6, 7 are plane schematic views illustrating the other embodiment of the exerciser; and

[0020]FIGS. 8, 9 are plane schematic views illustrating the other embodiment of the exerciser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-3, an exerciser in accordance with the present invention comprises a base 10 including a pair of brackets 13 secured on the front portion thereof, a pair of beams 11 each including a front and lower portion rotatably or pivotally secured to the respective brackets 13 with a pivot pin 12 for allowing the beams 11 to be folded toward the base 10 to form a compact folding structure. The front ends of the beams 11 may be secured to the rear panels 14 of the brackets 13 respectively with fasteners 17, for supporting the beams 11 at the upward working position. A seat cushion or a seat 16 is disposed on the base 10, such as on the upper portion of the beams 11 for supporting the buttocks or the knees of the users.

[0022] A back frame 20 includes a lower portion pivotally secured on the base 10 with a pivot axle 23, for allowing the back frame 20 to be rotated or pivoted relative to the base 10. For example, the back frame 20 includes a pair of arms 21 provided in the bottom portion thereof and parallel to each other for supporting the arms of the users, and includes one or two pairs of brackets 22 secured to the bottom portion of the back frame 20, or secured to the arms 21 respectively, for supporting the pivot axle 23 and for pivotally coupling the back frame 20 to the base 10. The brackets 22 each includes one or more apertures 24 formed therein and preferably formed around the pivot axle 23. A pad 28 is secured to the back frame 20 for engaging with the back portion of the users.

[0023] A lever 30 includes two legs 37 each having an upper end pivotally or rotatably secured to the base 10 with the pivot axle 23, and rotatable relative to the base 10 about the pivot axle 23. One or two fasteners 38 may engaged with either of the apertures 24 of the brackets 22 and may engage with the legs 37 of the lever 30 respectively for adjustably securing the lever 30 to the brackets 22 of the back frame 20 and for selectively securing the lever 30 to the back frame 20 and for allowing the lever 30 to be rotated in concert with the back frame 20.

[0024] A follower tube 31 includes a rear port ion pivotally secured to a bracket 33 of the lever 30 with a pivot shaft 39 and includes a front portion slidably supported on the front portion of the base 10 with a roller 47 or the like. A rod 40 is slidably engaged in the follower tube 31 and selectively or adjustably secured to the follower tube 31 with a fastener 41 or the like for allowing the rod 40 to be adjusted inward and outward relative to the follower tube 31. The rod 40 includes a foot support 44 secured or provided thereon. A spring biasing device 48 includes one or more spring members coupled between the base 10 and the follower tube 31 or the rod 40 or the foot support 44 for applying a biasing force against the follower tube 31 and thus the rod 40 and the foot support 44.

[0025] In operation, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the user may engage his back on the back frame 20 to rotate the back frame 20 about the pivot axle 23 and to exercise his back portion or his waist portion, and may engage his feet on the foot support 44 in order to move the foot support 44 and the rod 40 and the follower tube 31 forward against the spring or the biasing device 48, and to exercise his feet portion. The biasing device 48 may bias the foot support 44 rearward and may thus bias, via the lever 30, the back frame 20 to the upward or erect position as shown in FIGS. 1-4.

[0026] The fasteners 38 may be engaged through the other aperture 24 of the brackets 22 and the legs 37 of the lever 30 for securing the lever 30 to the bracket(s) 22 at different angular positions and for adjusting the movement of the foot support 44 relative to the back frame 20.

[0027] The fasteners) 38 may be disengaged from the legs 37 of the lever 30, and may secure the bracket 22 to the beams 11 of the base 10 in order to secure the back frame 20 and the brackets 22 to the base 10. At this moment, the back frame 20 may not be rotated relative to the base 10. The legs 37 of the lever 30 are disengaged or released from the brackets 22 and the back frame 20, such that the lever 30 and the follower tube 31 and thus the foot support 44 may be moved forward against the spring or the biasing device 48 to exercise the users feet portion. Alternatively, the user may engage his knee on the seat 16 and may use his foot or feet to engage with and to move the foot support 44 against the spring members of the biasing device 48 in order to exercise the users feet portion. The fastener(s) 38 may be engaged through the other aperture 24 of the brackets 22 and may engage with the beams 11 for securing the back frame 20 to the base 10 at different angular positions.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the base 10 may include a track 18, the rod 40 may include a wheel 49 slidably engaged on the track 18, such that the foot support 44 may also be moved forward and rearward by the users. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the foot support 44 may also be rotatably secured on the base 10 with a pivot axle 80 and coupled to the rod 40 with a pivot pin 81 and thus may also be moved foward and rearward by the users.

[0029] Accordingly, the exerciser may be used for selectively exercising the back portion and/or the feet portions of the users.

[0030] Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

I claim:
 1. An exerciser comprising: a base including a seat for supporting a user, a back frame rotatably secured on said base with a pivot axle for supporting a back of the user and for allowing the user to force and to rotate said back frame relative to said base about said pivot axle, a lever rotatably secured to said base, a foot support secured to said lever and slidable and movable relative to said base, and means for selectively coupling said lever to said back frame.
 2. The exerciser according to claim 1 further comprising a follower tube secured to said lever, and a rod slidably secured to said follower tube, said foot support is secured to said rod.
 3. The exerciser according to claim 2 further comprising means for slidably supporting said follower tube on said base.
 4. The exerciser according to claim 3, wherein said slidably supporting means includes a roller disposed on said base, said follower tube is engaged on and supported on said roller.
 5. The exerciser according to claim 2 further comprising means for adjusting said rod relative to said follower tube.
 6. The exerciser according to claim 1 further comprising means for biasing said foot support against a sliding movement of said foot support relative to said base.
 7. The exerciser according to claim 1, wherein said selectively coupling means includes at least one bracket secured to said back frame and rotatably secured to said base with said pivot axle, said lever includes at least one leg pivotally secured to said base with said pivot axle, and means for selectively securing said lever to said at least one bracket.
 8. The exerciser according to claim 7, wherein said selectively securing means includes a fastener engaged through said at least one leg of said lever and said at least one bracket to selectively secure said back frame and said lever together. 